Airplane launching track



Nov. 15, 1932.

w. STEIN AIRPLANE LAUNCHING TRACK Original Filed July 19, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 15, 1932. w. STEIN AIRPLANE LAUNCHING TRACK Original Filed July 19, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Wilhelm Sre'm.

A TTORNEY Original Filed July 19, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Wilhelm Sfein.

A TTORNE Y Patented Nov. 15, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE? TO ERNST HEINKEL, OF.

AIRPLANE naunonme TRACK Application filedJuly 19, 1929, Serial No. 379,388, and in Germany July 23, 1928.

This invention relates to launching tracks for flying machines and more especially to a novel device for imparting to the flying machine an accelerating force by means of the starting carriage supporting the machine. The accelerating force is imparted by means of a cable. In this case, of course,ivery high velocities are involved, which for .thepurpose of reducing the length of the launching track must be destroyed in the shortest possible 'way. According to this invention, therefore, the cable used for the acceleration is guided over pulleys in such a the end of the launching track it exerts a reacting force on the starting carriage.

There are also provided suitable brake devices for destroying the momentum of the starting carriage.

In the annexed drawings, in which, by

- 2 way of illustration, is shown an embodiment of the invention, Fig .1 shows the end of a launching track for flying machines; Fig.

2 is a section along line 22 in Fig. 1 shown in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 3 is a top plan view of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a similar view as F ig, 1 showing a modification; Fig. 5 is a top plan view of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is aview similar to Fig.- 5 showing a modification;

Figure 7 is a side elevation of a complete 39 device constructed in accordance with the invention; Figures 8, 9 and -10 aresectional views through the control means of the device, showing different operative positions of said control means; Figure '11 is an enlarged elevation of the delivery end of the device as illustrated in Figure '1 and, F igure 12 is a diagrammatic top plan view of the structure shown in Figure 11. V

In the drawings the launching track is in- 49 dicated at 1. 2 is the starting carriage for supporting the flying machine to be launched. At 3 is shown a cable attached to the starting carriage, by which cable an accelerating force is imparted to the starting carriage. Y V

In accordance with the invention, the cable 3 is guided over change-direction pulleys shown in Fig. 1 at 4 and 5, the arrangement being such that at the end of the launching 59 track a reacting force is'exerted on the startway that at so that they can locking adaptedto be engaged by a pawl 9 provided 7 Renewed May 23, 1932. ing carriage, whereby the moments of momentum of the starting carriage 2 and of the other moving elements of the acceleratingv device are partially balanced, or neutralized. Furthermore, by thepressureof the pressure-medium in thevoperating cylinder 39 of the accelerating device'a very effective, short and yet elasticbraking action on the speed of the starting carriage is" obtained.

g In order to prevent the starting carriage from backward oscillation, because of the reacting forceof cable 3, there is provided at theend of the launching track, or on the starting carriage, a braking or arresting means. This braking orfarresting'means consists in friction blocks 6 provided on the starting carriage-2 and adapted .to engage friction rails '7 providedv at the endlof the launching track, The friction rails :and friction blocks'6 may be made demountable,

bereplaced. Preferably, the friction rails are so arranged that the increased pressure .of 1 the starting carriage 2 against the rails produced by the pulling force. of cable 3 is rails of the launching track,-but' by the friction rails 7, whereby the premature wear of the slide rails of the launching track is prevented, while onthe other hand, an eifective braking action is-obtainedn z In order-to preventthe starting carriage 2 from accidental backward movement, an automatic locking means is I. provided. This meansmay consistin' rack bars 8 on the starting carriage. Preferably, the construction is such that the pawl 9 is-disengage'd from the said rack bars 'bymeans of the cable used for returning the-starting'car riage to its initial position, so that as the means for returning the carriage to its starting position are operated, the starting carriage is automatically freed from the lockingmeans. V

As shown in Figs. 46, the braking means may also be made in theshape of a braking member comprising two elements lt) which, by means of spring shown at 1 1 in Fig. 6, or bymeans of a compressedair cylinder 10 not received by the slide 75 v ably such that after the of the accelerating device cylinder 12 to thereby operate 10 of the said braking device.

can

pawl when it is 12 shown in Fig. 5, are forced against ledges 13 provided on the starting carria e 2.

Where the compressed air cylinder 12 is used (Fig. the arrangement is prefererating cylinder ias been thrown into operation, compressed air is allowed to pass from said pressed air cylinder to the compressed air the elements Thereby the elements 10, by means of pivoted double levers 14 and 15, are moved laterally into the braking position.

In the construction shown in Fig. 6 the arrangement is such that the pressureof the elementslO of the braking'member against the ledges 13 on the starting carriage gradually increases towards the end of the braking action, because, as shown in Fig. 6, the elements are pivotally mounted at 16. Provision is made to adjust the elements 10 in case ofwear of the brake lining shown at 17 by means of a threaded sleeve 18 provided with right and left-hand threads.

Referring particularly to Figures 7 to 12 of the drawings, it will be observed that upwardly inclined surfaces 21 are provided at the outer ends of the rackbars 8 to be engaged by the pawl 9 to lift the same from therack bars 8 when the carriage 2 reaches substantially its outermost position of movement along the launching track 1, and that a catch is carried by the carriage2 to engage the lifted to hold it in an'ele vated position to permitreturn movement of the carriage to its starting position. It will also be observed that a compressed air motor, illustrated conventionally and designated as 34, is connected by a cable 35 with the carriage 2 for the purpose of returning the carriage to its starting position. 7 7

At 39 in Figure 7 is conventionally illusstrated a power. device of known type operable by compressed air to exert a pull on the cable 3 to'effect forward'movement of the carriage 2, while at 37 in Figure 7 is illustrated a compressed air storage tank having a connection 38 with the power. device 39 for admitting air to said device. Also, in Figure 7 is illustrated a control device designated generally as 23 forcontrolling the flow of air from the tank 37 to and from the cylinder 12 and to the motor 34.

. The control device 23 is inclusive in this instance of a casing having connected with the top thereof at longitudinally spaced points a ipe-28, in which is interposed a valve 33 Figure 10), and a pipe 29' which leads to and is connected with the motor 34.

Also connected with said casing, through the bottom [thereof at longitudinally spaced points, is a pair of pipes 25 and 27, the former of which is connected with the tank 37 and with the exhaust from the power device 39 operating cylinderor the come through a branch pipe 25a, and the latter of which is connected with the air cylinder 12. Provided in the pipes 25, 25a are valves 25?) for controlling the flow of air through the pipe 25 to the control device 23.

Slidable within'the casing of the control device 23 is a valve 24 having a pair of intercommunicating passages 26, 26a opening through the bottom thereof at longitudinally spaced points corresponding to the spacing of the pipes 25, 27, said passages having a common opening through the top of the valve as shown. Also formed through said -valve 24 near the rear end thereof is a passage 32 the upper end of which is spaced from the common upper end of the passages 26, 2660 a distance slightly greater than the spacing of the pipes 28 and 29, andthe lower end of which is disposed to aline with the pipe 25 when the upper end is alined with the pipe 29. c Normally the valve 24 is disposed at its rearward limit of movement within the cas ing 23, in which position the pipe 25 is blanked by the part of the valvebetween the passages 26, 26a, as illustrated in Figure 8 of the drawings.

. Projecting upward from the valve 24 through a slot in the casing 23 is a pin or lug 30 which is 'engageable by a pin or lug 31 depending from the carriage 2. 'Thus, upon admission of air from the tank 37 to the power device 39, with consequent projection of the carriage 2 forwardly along the track 1, and assuming the valves 25?) and 33 to be open, it is apparent that as the carriage travels over the control-device 23 the valve 24 will be moved outward by reason of engage ment of the pin or stop 31 on the carriage with the pin or stop 30 on the valve, and that during the first part of such movement of the valve the passages 26, 26 will be brought into register with'the pipes25, 27, respectively, asillustrated in Figure 9. Air then will flow from the pipe'25 through the passages 26, 26a and the pipe 27 to the cylinder 12 and actuatethe piston therein to move the braking elements 10 relativelyinward for braking engagement with the ledges 13 of the carriage. Upon further forward movement of the carriage the valve 24 will be moved forward therewith to the position shown in Figure 10, in which the valve blanks the air supply pipe 25 and the common upper end of the passages 26, 26a alines with the pipe 28and the lower end of the passage 26 alines with the pipe 27, thereby permitting escape of air from the cylinder 12 with consequent releasing of the brakingaction on the carriage. By has been brought substantially to a stop, snubbed by the powerdevice 39 due to the arrangement of the pulleys 4 and 5, but the momentum of the carriage carries it a little farther forward until the pawl 9 rides up on this time the carriage LIX the inclined surfaces 21 and becomes latched by the latch 20, and the passage 32 alines with the pipes 25 and 29. Thereupon, air flows from the pipe 25 through the passage 32 in the valve and through the pipe 29 to the air motor 34, which operates to return the carriage to its starting position either against the tendency of the power device to hold the carriage in a forward position on the track 1 or, preferably, following cutting off the air supply to the power device 39 either manually or in any other suitable or desired manner. Upon return of the carriage to its starting position the valve 24 is moved manually or otherwise to its normal position and the apparatus thus is restored to its original condition in readiness to repeat the operation just recounted.

If it is not desired to utilize the means for effecting automatic return of the carriage to its starting position, the valve 33 is closed, in which event the braking elements 10 maintain their braking relation with the ledges 13 until the air pressure in the cylin der 12 is suitably relieved, as, for example, by manually opening said valve.

Obviously, other modifications may be made without a departure from the invention.

WVhat is claimed is:

1. In combination with a launching track for flying machines, and a starting carriage mounted on said track for movement therealong, means operable to impart movement to said starting carriage'in a direction along said track to eflect launching of a flying machine mounted on said carriage, and means whereby the same means first mentioned is effective to retard the launching movement of said carriage as the latter approaches the end of its launching movement.

2. In combination with a launching track for flying machines, and a starting carriage mounted on said track for movement therealong, means operable to impart movement to said starting carriage in a direction along said track to effect launching of a flying machine mounted on said carriage, means whereby the same means first mentioned is effective to retard the launching movement of said carriage as the latter approaches the end of its launching movement, and friction braking means for cooperation with said first means to also retard the launching movement of the carriage.

3. In combination with a launching track for flying machines and a starting carriage adapted to be moved along said track, a pullcable attached to said carriage for imparting thereto an accelerating motion, and means for so guiding said cable as to exert thereby on said starting carriage at the end of said launching track a reacting force.

4. In combination with a. launching track for flying machines and a starting carriage adapted to be moved along said track, a pullcable attached to said carriage for imparting thereto an accelerating motion, means for guiding said cable so as to exert thereby a reacting force on said carriage at the end of said track, and brake-means for said carriage.

5. In combination withva launching track for flying machines and a starting carriage adapted to be moved along said track, a pull- I cable attached to said carriage for imparting thereto an accelerating motion, means for so guiding said cable as to thereby exert a reacting force on said carriage at the end of said track, brake-means adapted to engage said carriage, and means for automatically operating said brake-means.

6. In combination with a launching track for flying machines and a starting carriage adapted to be moved along said track, a pullcable attached to said starting carriage for imparting thereto an accelerating motion, means for so guiding said cable as to exert thereby a reacting force on said carriage-at the end of said track, brake-means for said carriage, and means for locking said carriage to prevent its accidental return movement.

7. In combination with a launching track for flying machines and a starting carriage. adapted to be moved along said track, a pullcable attached to said carriage for imparting thereto an accelerating force, means for so guiding said cable as to thereby exert on said carriage a reacting force at the end of said track. means for returning said carriage to its initial position, and means for locking said carriage to prevent its accidental return movement, said last named means being operatively so connected with said return means as to be automatically operated thereby. I 8. The combination as specified in claim 7, including brake-means adapted to engage said carriage.

9. In combination with a launching track for flying machines and a, starting carriage adapted to be moved along said track, a pull: 7

cable attached to said carriage for imparting thereto an accelerating motion, means for so guidingsaid cable as to thereby exert on said carriage a reacting force at the end of said track, brake means for said carriage, and a compressed air cylinder for operating said brake means.

10. The combination as specified in claim 9, including means for automatically conveying compressed air from the operating cylinder of the accelerating device or from the compressed air reservoirto said compressed air cylinder.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

WILHELM STEIN 

